Sometimes It’s The Little Things…

Tags

Benjamin Disraeli, Color, Colour, Fashion, Mavericks, Melbourne, Mens Fashion, Shoe, Shoe Laces, shoelace, Shoes

Mavericks Shoelaces
(Image from here)

Little things affect little minds. (Benjamin Disraeli)

According to Mr Disraeli, I have a little mind. It’s OK. I can live with that. Especially because I think little things can make a big difference. And, while today’s post might not make a BIG difference, it does make me smile…

With that in mind, I bring you Mavericks Laces of Melbourne, a lovely wee company founded in 2012 by three Melbourne designers who love shoelaces. They reckon their laces “can completely transform a pair of shoes, increase your happiness, and make you feel like a bit of a Maverick. Not bad for what most people think is an everyday functional object.”

They also believe that “if the shoes make the man, the laces make the shoe, so (they) design colourful laces for colourful characters.” Now, I may not happen to be a man, but I do agree that a great pair of shoes is well worth drawing the attention of others.

It just so happens I have a pair of shoes that need a bit of lace-loving. My well-loved patent bronze brogues deserve a bit of colour, I reckon.

My Robert Clergerie Brogue
(Image by TSL)

And, the Mavericks team have a number of options for jazzing up your lace ups. I’m leaning towards Dylan, but could be persuaded by Bert. What do you think?

Dylan by Mavericks
Dylan was the popular kid at school. Captain of the footy team, opening fast bowler of the cricket team and an academic wonder boy. Dylan gets along with every shoe he meets with effortless charm. He is the man you want in your corner no matter what the situation.
(Image from here)

Archie by Mavericks
This is one bold cat. Archie’s middle name is danger and his best mate is a Spanish bullfighter. He rolls with shoes of every colour in his posse. Archie is not afraid to be heard and can be a bit of a loud mouth.
(Image from here)

Bert by Mavericks
Bert can be up tight and has a bit of a dark side. He isn’t as loud as most of his
mates, but likes to get the job done with his understated ways. He is often found having deep and meaningfuls with black, khaki and other earthly toned shoes.
(Image from here)

I do love an organisation that anthropomorphises their product! And, if that wasn’t enough excitement for one pair of shoes, the peeps at Mavericks even have a section on their website where they give you instruction in how to ‘style your laces your way’… I favour the Hash.

‘The Hash’ lace style
(Image from here)

Maverick has a groovy website. You can order online (delivery limited to Australia only at this time). You can check it out here.

I’d Love Bright Beads of My Very Own…

Tags

Australia, Bespoke Lighting Design, Bright Beads, Cat Deeley, Coco Reynolds, Design, Forest Stewardship Council, Lighting, Marz Designs, Sydney, Wood

I find great lighting and a squint of the eyes makes anyone look better. (Cat Deeley)

Just how gorgeous are the Bright Beads pendant lights from Marz Designs, huh?

Established by Coco Reynolds in 2010, Marz Designs is a young Sydney-based design company. Its aim is to create timeless and innovative designs, with both functionality and quality. Inspired to push the boundaries of many mediums and functions Marz has a quirky and unique style. It works for me!

The clearly talented Coco is currently learning the craftsmanship of woodwork at the STURT school of wood. Her goal is to promote craft practice in collaboration with industry.

The Bright Beads lighting project was developed in conjunction with How We Create  to demonstrate the relationship between designer and manufacturer. These lights have been beautifully handcrafted from FSC certified timbers and can be custom-made to meet specific requirements, at any length and in any configuration to suit. (sigh). I think they are gorgeous!

Marz Bright Beads Lighting
(Images from here)

If you’d like to learn more about either Bright Beads or Marz Designs, check out the website here.

Jac+Jack STILL Make the Best Tees…

Tags

Australia, Clothing, Fashion, Online Shopping, Oxford Street, Shopping, Split Enz, T-Shirts, Tim Finn

Jac+Jack
(Image from here)

Back in July last year, I wrote a wee post about the Jac+Jack ‘Louis’ Tee (you can refresh your memory here). I still reckon they make the best t-shirts around.

What’s even better is their Oxford Street store has opened (actually, a month ago now. I never claimed to be a fashionista!) and it’s a super fine place to visit if you are after a beautifully crafted, clean piece in cotton or cashmere…

Jac+Jack
126 Oxford Street, Sydney
(Image from here)

LM and I happened past the store the other day while walking the pooch. I just had to take the opportunity to pick up a couple of fresh white tees. There are even a couple of ‘husband chairs’ and best of all, the pooch was welcomed with open arms. Gotta’ love a dog friendly clothing store!

Jac+Jack ‘Mitch’ Tee
I thought I’d branch out from the ‘Louis’!
(Image from here)

What just takes the cake for this Kiwi girl, is that the model for the brand’s most recent men’s campaign is none other than our Tim Finn (of Split Enz fame for those of you not in the know… Perhaps I am showing my age?)

It’s a non-stop invention, this game of life, and as soon as you think you’ve got it, you lose it. (Tim Finn)

Tim Finn for Jac+Jack
(Image from here)

Now that’s an inspired bit of marketing, I reckon…

According to their website, Jac+Jack are still working on shipping internationally. Do go and have a squizz at their ever-growing range, though. You can get to it here.

Is it Just Me, or is This Plain Ridiculous…?

Tags

Apple, apple slices, Australia, Braeburn, Comercialisation, Convenience, Diet, food, Fruit, goulbourn valley, Goulburn Valley, Henry David Thoreau, Lunchbox Ideas, Ridiculous Products

(Image source unknown)

Surely the apple is the noblest of fruits. (Henry David Thoreau)

A slight departure from my usual offerings today because I have to reason-check something with you guys. I need to make sure I’m not going off on one of my crazy wee tangents. I want to ensure the world didn’t go completely bonkers while I wasn’t looking.

Here’s the thing. The lovely LM and I were sitting in front of the goggle-box at some stage this past week when I noticed an advertisement for packaged apple slices. Yes – you read that correctly, fresh(ish) apple slices wrapped and sealed in plastic. I thought it was a joke, seriously. I mean, why would anyone want buy packaged apple slices?

But no, upon a little investigation, the folks at Goulburn Valley are indeed producing “the perfect snack of choice in a convenient ready-to-go pack. GOULBURN VALLEY Fresh™ apple slices are the easiest way to get the goodness of fruit with a guaranteed crunch and without all the fuss!”

Goulbourn Valley Fresh
(Image from here)

This is a real product. And, it claims to remove all the fuss from eating an apple. What fuss? Is it just me, or does an apple not already come perfectly packaged in its natural form? I am genuinely nonplussed at this concept.

More Goulbourn Valley Fresh
(Image from here)

Here in Australia apples are available all year round. They are one of my go-to fruits - especially when slices are spread with this amazing macadamia butter that I buy at the Farmers Market. But that’s another story. As for preferred variety, it’s a toss-up between Braeburn and Pink Lady for me, but there are so many other options. And, they all come neatly encased as nature intended.

Ok – so, I’m an adult. I will accept that sometimes a fussy child may wish for apple slices for their morning-tea. Well, here’s the solution for how to keep a cut apple fresh in a lunchbox. All you need is an apple and a rubber band…

The Rubber Band Trick!
(Image from Pearl Trees)

Please tell me what you think. Is it just me, or are packaged apple slices just ridiculous?

This weekend I’m off to the Olsen Irwin Gallery…

Tags

Art exhibition, Artist, Australia, Fine art, Jackson Pollock, John Bell, Morton Feldman, Nicholas Harding, Sydney, Woollahra, Woollahra New South Wales

Estuary Figures (Swim-ring, Towel and Hat)
Image taken from Olsen Irwin Gallery © Nicholas Harding

I want to give my compliments to Australia. Ever since your government paid a few million dollars for a Jackson Pollack painting, I figure that it must be a marvellous country. (Morton Feldman)

Yes, it is a marvellous country but I’d rather have a ‘Nicholas Harding‘ than a ‘Jackson Pollock’ hanging in my living room any day. Truly. He is one Australian-based artist who, for me anyway, captures both the Australian landscape and culture in a wonderfully textured way. And, I’m not even an Australian!

Down here, he’s quite a well-known figure in the art world (which is another way of saying his works are outside of my budget by a considerable margin). He won Australia’s most famous portraiture prize – the Archibald – back in 2001 with his work of the actor and director, John Bell.

March is Art Month for us down here. To celebrate, the Olsen Irwin Gallery in the lovely, leafy suburb of Woollahra is holding a ‘Figures, Flora and Landscape’ exhibition of Nicholas Harding’s work. I think it looks pretty fab…

Estuary Figures (Ball and Bat)
Image taken from Olsen Irwin Gallery © Nicholas Harding

Estuary Figures (Swamp Oaks, Swim-ring and Dog)
Image taken from Olsen Irwin Gallery © Nicholas Harding

The exhibition runs until 10 March at The Olsen Irwin Gallery. The gallery can be found at 63 Jersey Road, Woollahra, Sydney, Australia. If you would like to see more of the exhibition, there is a full catalogue of works here.

I Love Sydney – Sydney Dance Company

Tags

Arts, Ballet, Dance, Kylie Minogue, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Modern dance, Performing Arts, Rafael Bonachela, Rambert Dance Company, Sarah Blasko, Sydney, Sydney Dance Company

Sydney Dance Company
De Novo – a mixed bill of premiere works
(Image from Sydney Dance Company)

Now there is in a way a renaissance of modern dance – suddenly, it is more respected and discovered. (Mikhail Baryshnikov)

I was not one of those girls who dreamt of becoming a ballet dancer. Pink was never my colour (and still isn’t). ‘Elegant’ and ‘graceful’ are not words that would ever be used to describe the way I move. In fact, I have been told I have a ‘purposeful stride’. I’m not even sure that’s a compliment.

Despite all that, I adore going to see the Sydney Dance Company when they perform.

Rafael Bonachela
Artistic Director for the Sydney Dance Company
(Image from Sydney Dance Company)

We are so very lucky to have the incredibly charismatic and talented Rafael Bonachela as the Artistic Director for the SDC.

Rafael was born in Barcelona where he began his early dance training before moving to London, and in 1992 joined the legendary Rambert Dance Company. 

His internationally recognised talent has seen him work not only with contemporary dance at the highest level but also with artists from popular culture, such as Kylie Minogue and Tina Turner.

Rafael was named one of the Sydney Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in 2012 for his efforts to popularise dance since taking on the job of Artistic Director with Sydney Dance Company.

From March 1, De Novo premiers at the Sydney Dance Company. It is a programme of three works. If the last four performances choreographed by Rafael are anything to go by, this will be well worth experiencing. Rafael has a way of introducing mixed media into his pieces that surprise you; coupled with a highly collaborative style – the first work in De Novo, titled ‘Emergence’, is an alliance between Rafael, singer-songwriter Sarah Blasko and composer Nick Wales.

I, for one, can’t wait to experience De Novo…

If you live in Sydney, and haven’t yet been to a Sydney Dance Company performance – please do so. It will blow you away. De Novo is on at Sydney Theatre from 1 – 23 March and tickets are still available.

I Still Need REAL Books…

Tags

Abraham Lincoln, Art Books, Bookstore, Design Books, E-book, eReader, Foreign Language Books, Groucho Marx, IPad, Japan, Kinokuniya, New South Wales, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney

The Size of Books
(Image from toothpastefordinner.com)

The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who’ll get me a book I ain’t read. (Abraham Lincoln)

I like to think I’m a modern, forward thinking kind of girl (at least for a Gen’ Xer, anyway). In some circles, I could even be considered an ‘early adopter’ of some technology. For instance, I was one of the first among my friends to get an iPad. I loved it. Now, I have graduated to an iPad mini – and I love it even more.

I’m a bit of a reader, and I have quite a few eBooks. I just counted them for you – 404 as at the time of writing! I even surprised myself! 

Anyhoo. The point I’m getting to is that as much as I love my eReader, sometimes I need a real book. Not a soft copy. I love my eReader for fiction. I particularly love it when I’m travelling because real books are heavy and take up a lot of room. And, because I have been known to chew through a book a day when I’m on a serious reading bent.

But still, sometimes, I need a real book. I ALWAYS buy cookbooks in real book form. And, I’m starting to think I shall now do the same with all my non-fiction reading. Sometimes, especially with non-fiction, I want to flick back and forward. I want to spend time on specific information. I want to refer back to things I may have read earlier. At these times, a real book is the answer.

Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. (Groucho Marx*)

Today, I was in need of a specific real book**. And, for me, the first port of call in Sydney for a real book is the most fabulous Kinokuniya.

Kinokuniya Sydney
(Images by TSL)

Kinokuniya is the largest bookstore chain in Japan with over 80 stores worldwide.

Kinokuniya Sydney offers a huge range of books with over 300,000 titles in English, Japanese, Chinese, French and German. So, it’s great if you’re visiting Sydney and need a wee something to read in your language of choice!

Located in the heart of Sydney CBD, Kinokuniya stocks an extensive collection of Manga, graphic novels, art and design books, cookbooks, travel books and children’s literature. I reckon it is the place to come for art and design books.

You can find Kinokuniya at Level 2, The Galeries, 500 George Street (opposite the QVB), Sydney NSW 2000.

*eReaders clearly had not been invented at the time of Groucho’s quote!

**as it happens, my book was out of stock, but the very helpful man at the information desk sorted me out.

Tomorrow is Anti-Valentine’s Day at Casa TSL…

Tags

Aesop, Anti-Valentine, Cupid, Moutwash, Personal hygiene, Valentine's Day

Cupid
(Image source unknown)

I don’t understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine’s Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon. ~Unknown

We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day at Casa TSL. LM is the anti-Valentine. Truly. He finds Valentine’s Day a ridiculously commercial waste of time. And, I absolutely agree with him. At least, for 364 days of the year, I do.

I particularly agree with him because I love him. I particularly agree with him because he makes me laugh. I particularly agree with him because he buys me flowers when I (apparently, according to some sign seen only by him) need them, and often when I least expect them. I particularly agree with him because he is very good at choosing gifts. I particularly agree with him for all sorts of additional reasons that I can’t really write about because LM would consider that ‘over sharing’.

I just happen to not agree with him on the 14th February when I see all that ridiculously commercial wasting of time taking place. And, knowing I will not be receiving any cards or chocolate or flowers on that day makes me the teensiest bit jealous of all those people who are. Which, of course, makes me very shallow.

I can live with that.

Anyhoo, that just brings me to my extremely practical suggestion for a Valentine’s Day gift. One that might even rate considering as an anti-Valentine’s Day Gift.

The fabulous people at Aesop (I first blogged about them here) have come out with a new product just in time for the 14th of February…

Aesop proposes to assist even the most resistant of us to get in the mood for love…
(Image from Aesop.com)

And they’ll achieve that with their Bain de Bouche.

Aesop Bain de Bouche/Mouthwash
(Image from Aesop.com)

Aesop’s Mouthwash is an alcohol-free formula. It contains carefully selected botanical ingredients to address odour-causing bacteria that can flourish in the mouth. And, the packaging is SO much nicer than good, old Listerine’s, don’t you think?

To assist us even further with getting in the mood, the helpful marketing folks at Aesop have given us translations of what we affectionately term a ‘pash‘ down here in Australia…

Australia –  to pash

United States – to make out

Japan – チュッ ‘Chu’

UK – to snog

France – galocher

Germany – knutschen

Hong Kong  – 鍚 ’Sek

With that in mind, I hope you all get LOTS of knutschen from your beloved(s) tomorrow!

Happy Anti-Valentine’s Day from me!

 

Karen Walker’s Eyewear For All Ages…

Tags

Advanced Style, Alexa Chung, Beth Ditto, Claire Danes, Eyewear, Fashion, Jennifer Lopez, Karen Walker, Karen Walker Eyewear, Liv Tyler, Natalie Portman, New Zealand, Photography, Sienna Miller, Sunglasses, Zooey Deschanel

According to the ubiquitous Wikipedia, the clothes of oh-so-talented Kiwi designer, Karen Walker have been seen on many, many celebs including Lady Gaga, Björk, Sienna Miller, Natalie Portman, Alexa Chung, Beth Ditto*, Liv Tyler, Rihanna, Claire Danes, Zooey Deschanel and Jennifer Lopez.

That’s all well and good, but I reckon’ Ms Walker’s latest collaboration with Ari Seth Cohen and his über stylish women of Advanced Style wearing sunglasses from her Karen Walker Spring 2013 Forever Campaign are just the bee’s knees. It trumps any celeb’ sighting in my book. Check these out and see what you think…

Karen Walker/Advanced Style Collaboration
(All images sourced from Advanced Style)

The Karen Walker Spring 2013 Forever Campaign stars Ilona Royce Smithkin, Joyce Carpati, Linda Rodin and Lynn Dell. The range hits stores sometime this month. If you’d like to see more of these great images, Advanced Style has a MUCH bigger selection here.

*Note to self, if Beth Ditto has worn Karen Walker pieces, then you are definitely neither short nor too round to consider them…

The Hiatus is (Finally) Officially Over…

Tags

Alexander Smith, Australia, Blog, Blogging, Culburra Beach, Navel Gazing, New Zealand, Sydney, Trey Anastasio

A special friend to TSL
Taken in paradise at Culburra Beach, January 2013
(Image by TSL)

If there’s one thing I discovered since I came back from hiatus, it’s that you can’t go backwards. (Trey Anastasio)

Trey may be right in that you can’t go backwards, but you can certainly try to hold onto the feeling for as long as possible… And, that’s my excuse for not posting sooner. Apologies. But, I’m here now!

It’s been a pretty fab’ e x t e n d e d break involving a trip to NZ for Christmas with friends and family, followed by a fortnight at the wonderful Culburra Beach with some of my favourite people in the world. And then, another trip to NZ for the wedding of a special mate…

A wonderful, windy wedding on Waiheke…
(Image by TSL)

And, in between all that activity, a little time for some navel gazing.

A man gazing on the stars is proverbially at the mercy of the puddles in the road. (Alexander Smith)

Last year in blog world was a wonderful time for me. I kind of launched myself into this blogging thing at the beginning of the year, completely unprepared for all the wonderful people I would meet along the way. (That’s you! – You know who you are…)

This year, I’m going to shake things up a little. First off, I will be posting on Wednesdays and Saturdays for the next wee while. (That’s Australia time, for those of you up north!) Perhaps, if the mood strikes, I may surprise you with an extra post here or there, but Wednesdays and Saturdays will be the norm.

Qantas Flight Over Sydney)
(Source unknown)

Next up, I’ve decided to tweak the focus of the content a wee bit. Since this blog is about ‘This Sydney Life’, this year I’ll still bring you design, art, good craft, food, fashion style and things with wee bit of a quirk factor. The difference is that I’ll focus more locally than globally – that is Sydney, with the wider Australia and New Zealand geographies thrown in for good measure. How does that sound?

Sydney Travel Poster
(Source Unknown)

Armed with my trusty iPhone AND with the fabulous camera LM bought me (when I work out how to use it), I hope to keep you engaged with bits ‘n’ bobs from around Sydney-town and a little further afar…

Roll on 2013!